The alarm was set for 7.30 this morning and I woke up ten minutes before it went off and went downstairs to find it was only twenty past six. But I minded not, as it was a stunningly beautiful morning and the extra hour meant that I got to sit outside in the teahouse with my quadspresso and read the paper.
I duly met Andy & Paula at Jack & Jill and we were joined this morning by Ade and Garth, both of whom are also signed up for the Brighton marathon. We contemplated a tortuous route across to Wolstenbury and all points West, but settled for a more straightforward out and back so that Ade could easily turn round at any point… this being one of his first runs after a long absence.
It was clearly going to be a hot day, but a brisk southerly kept us at a great temperature for running. We ran along to Blackcap and the views were stunning… even if my panning suggests major tectonic activity!
It took us 47 minutes to get to Blackcap and we then set about trying to catch Ade, who had turned around early. This was easier said than done, as he had a good head start and he wasn’t any much slower than us!
En route back we stopped to find out what the radio hams were doing on the Beacon, other than listening to the cricket and then caught up with Kjell and Gill from Burgess Hill Runners, out for a gentle run with their dog.
As we neared the end, Paula scooted into the distance on her bike and Garth also disappeared ahead on his younger legs. Andy and I did our best to catch him, careering down the hill like madmen. We reeled him in but he was fast and was clearly not even trying, as he took the slower route around the windmills. This left the way open for us to be sitting on the wall by the cars when he sauntered up. Little things!
The distance was about 15km, or 9.35 miles and it had taken us 1 hour 35 minutes… at a pretty consistent, conversational 5.9mph, as it took us almost exactly the same 47 minutes each way. So a short run for a Sunday, but it was warming up and I was still pooped, so that was okay.
